Database design of a PDM system for research institutions

On the background of developing the Product Data Management(PDM) system for vehicle powertrain integrated design, we found three problems to solve. The first is product and its technical parameters need to customize freely. It's solved by defining code fields for product database table and parameter table. Second, the technical parameters of different levels overlap each other or the cause and effect relationship exists. The solution is storing one parameter in structured format and others in unstructured format. Third, design task needs to be dynamicly associated with its input parameters, output parameters, knowledge, tools, and the solution is introducing the Design Function as the carrier of data package. Base the database design, one PDM system was developed which provides a better tool for designing activity of the research institutions. In the paper, the relational database design scheme offer a new way of thinking for the database design of PDM system.